Antiskid device for automobiles



May 20, 1941. G, 5 CRQME 2,242,348.'

ANTISKID DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE-S Filed Aug. 2, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 605mm 5. clean/v5 May 20, 1941. G. s. cRooME ANTISKID DEVICE' FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Aug. 2., 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WEA/T01?. '60s-mns 6. Ceco/WE .Ey

May 20, 1941. G. s. cRooME 2,242,348

I ANTISKID DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Aug. 2, 1940 s sheets-sheet s I /NVE/VTOQ. GUSTHYE. 5. E60/WE' Patented May 20, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTISKID DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Gustave Sydney Croome, Mitcham, England Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,813

In-Great Britain July 19,1939

9 Claims.

This invention relates to antiskid devices for automobiles, and provides a device which functions to effect not only the wiping of f the tires l but also the clearing away of mud and other matmovably carried by said unit and ad'apted'in one position to wipe the wheel tire, and operating means arranged to simultaneously position the said road wiper and' tire scraper to perform their respective operations.

Conveniently the device may comprise av frame disposed in front of awheel of the automobile and supported from the brake drum of thewheel and having vertically slidable therein aspringloaded slider incorporating a spring-controlled tire scraper and a squeegee, a spring-pressed catch on said frame for holding the slider in normal raised position, and. means ico-acting with said catch and operably connected by a Bowden or other flexible cable connected to a strip adaptedI to be actuated by the brake lever of the automobile f-or retracting the catch and permit of the downward movement of the slider to contact with the ground.

The above arrangement is such that, on the brake lever being actuated, the catch is disengaged from the slider which, bythe contraction of its spring, instantly slides downwardly with the result that the scraper swings out rearwardly and contacts with and wipes the tire of the wheel, whilst the lower ends of both the squeegee and its reinforcement contact with theground, the saidv reinforcement clearingl away mud from in front of. the squeegee which wipes the ground immediately in front of the tire of the wheel, said squeegee being capable of a lateral swinging movement.

In use, a set of four of these devices, o-f which only one is directly actuated by the brake lever, is employed' and disposed one in front of each wheel of the automobile, the catch release means of the second device being operably connected to the catch release means of the rst device, and

the catch release meansv of the second device operably- [connected to f the catch release means (Cl. 28th-158) of theithird device Whose catch release means is operably connected to the catch release means of the fourth device so that, when' the hand brake lever isactuated; all the said devices function simultaneously.

For a ready understanding of the invention, reference is to be'had-to the followingdescription and accompanying sheet of drawings illustrative of anv embodiment of theinventio-n,v and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view ofthe device, the same being'in normal raised position;-

Figure -2visja vertical sectional'fviewtaken on line 2 2 of -said Figurel,

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken on line 3-'-3of said Figurev 1,

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1,

Figure 5 isa front elevational view of thedevvice-the same being in itsoperativeposition, and

Figure -6 is a diagrammatic side view illustrative of they application of the invention.`

Figure 'l is a-view illustrative of the trip hereinafter referred-to.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding partsin the several iignres; l

In carrying out the invention, and' referring t the drawings, there is-provided a frame constitutedby frontl and rear plates I, Iixedly secured to thefrontand rear faces of two spaced-apart uprights 2, 2 each having in its inner face a vertical guide-way 3, and on its lower'end a laterally extending lug II, thel said rear plate I extending beyond the-lower edge of the front plate I aforesaid.

The rear plate I aforesaid is adjust-ably connected, for vertical movement, to a channelsection plate 5 which is adjustably connected for arcuate movement, to the apex end of a V-like member B iixedly secured to the brake drum cover plate 'I of. a'wheel 8, as shown in Figure 6;

In the guides 3 aforesaid is slidably mounted the slider of the device, said slider consisting o-f uprights S'Slidable in the guides 3, and which are at their upper end fixedly secured to a plate Illl having at its upper end laterally projecting lugs I I to which, and to the lugs 4 of the frame, are anchoredcoiled tension springs I2, whilst the lower ends of the said uprights 9' are iixedly secured to a plate I3. Fixedly connected to the upper end of the front plate I of the frame, and centrally in the width of said plate I, is a housing I4 inwhich is slidable a spring-pressed catch I5 whose front end' is adapted to be engaged with the bottom end of thefplate I0 ofthe slider and retain-the same-in normal raised position,

and with the springs I2 tensioned as shown in Figures 1 and 4.

In aligning lugs I3a on the opposed uprights 9 of the slider, there is pivotally mounted, by its spindle 4, a plate 5 adapted to be outwardly rearwardly swung by means of a coiled spring I'I, and to said plate 4 there is secured, by bolts and nuts I6, the tire scraper of the device, said scraper being constituted by two sheets I8 preferably of rubber similar in size and.' shape and which overlap one another, as shown in Figure 4 and present an arched recess I9 in their lower parts, a cover plate 29 being interposed between the securing nuts and the rear plate I8.

To the front plate I of the framevare xedly secured the arms 2I of an inverted U-member,

and in said arms 2| is rotatably mounted a spindle 22 on which is freely mounted a centrally small drum 24 positioned beside one pulley are mounted on squared portions of the shaft to turn solid therewith, each pulley 23 having affixed thereto a chain 25 which is anchored to the lower end of the upper plate I6 of the slider, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

To the bight 2Ia of the inverted U-member aforesaid are connected two Bowden cables, respectively 26 and 21, and the operating wire 28 of the cable 26 is fixedly connected to the front and horizontally disposed arm 29 of the T-member, a coiled spring 3l), which encircles the wire 28 being interposed between said arm 29 and the bight 2Ia of the U-member. The other end of the wire 28 is connected to the rear end of a pivotally mounted arm 3l, see Figure 7, having a nose 32 pivotally connected at 33 to the front end of the arm 3I and normally maintained in line with said arm by means of a spring 34 which is anchored both to the arm 3| and to the nose 32 aforesaid.

The lower end of the vertically depending arm 35 of the T-member aforesaid engages in a slot I5a in the catch I5 which is normally forwardly pressed by a spring I5b located in the housing I4 on the front plate I of the frame. Further, the operating wire 21a of the cable 21 is connected to the rear horizontal arm 36 of the T-member aforesaid, the other end of the said wire 21a being connected to the front horizontal arm of the T-member of another similar device, not shown in the drawings, and the same applies lto the other two devices of the set of devices.

To the drum 24 on the spindle 22 of the VT- member is attached a chain 24a to which is connected the operating wire 31 of another Bowden cable 38 which is also amxed to the bight 2Ia, of the inverted U-member, the other end of said wire 31 being connected to a control handle operable by the driver of the automobile.

Further, to the bottom plate I3 of the slider there is connected the road scraper of the device, said scraper being constituted by a bre front plate 39 backed by a sheet of rubber 40, said rubber 40 extending beyond the lower end of the fibre plate 39 aforesaid.

Working of the antiskid device On the brake lever 4I', see Figure 7, being forwardly pushed, it contacts with the nose 32 of the arm 3| and cants the same, and then slips past said nose 32, with the result that the wire 28 pulls onl the arm 29 of the T-member and thereby causes the arm 35 of said T-member Yto retract the catch I5 against the action of its spring I5b from under the lower end of the upper plate IU of the slider, whereupon the springs I2 function to contract and downwardly 5 pull the said slider into the position shown in Figures 5 and 6, and as the upper end of the plate 4, which carries the scraper, clears the lower end of the rear plate I of the frame, said scraper is, by the springy I1, outwardly and rearwardly swung so that the recess I9 of said scraper contacts with the tire 42 of the well 8, whilst, at the same time, the lower edge of the nbre plate 39 contacts with and clears the 'ground in front of the rubber 40, whose lower end is rearwardly bent and wipes the ground immediately in front of the tire 32 aforesaid. The turning of the T- member at'the same time effects, through its arm 36 and the Wire 21a, of the cable 21, the

y simultaneous release of the catch of another device of the set of devices, and the same applies to the other devices of the set.

To return the slider into its normal raised position again, the wire 31 of the cable 3B is actuated the reverse rotation of the pulleys 23,

with consequent winding thereonto of the chains 25 and the raising of the slider, the upper end of the upper 'plate III thereof pushing back the catch I5 which remains pushed back until the lower end o-f said plate III slips past the nose of the catch which then engages under said lower end of the plate I0. The tire scraper is also returned to its in position by reason of the upper part of the plate 5 contacting with the lower end of the rear plate I of the frame Vof the device.

The hand or foot-brake lever, when moved backwardly tilts and then slips past the nose 32 of the arm 3I and nose 32 springs back to normal position, but when the antiskid device is not required to be used, then the said nose 32 is swung down clear of the hand or foot lever 4I and maintained in such position Iby the spring 34, leaving the hand lever unobstructed for ordinary use.

4,5; I claim:

prising a unit adapted to be supported in front of a road wheel of the vehicle, a road wiping and drying device movably carried by said unit and adapted in one position to contact with the road surface in front of the said wheel, a tire scraper movably carried by said unit and adapted in one position to wipe the wheel tire, and operating means arranged to simultaneously position the said road wiper and tire scraper to perform their respective operations.

2. An antiskid device for automobiles consisting of a frame disposed in front of a wheel of the automobile and supported from the brake drum of the wheel, and having vertically slidabletherein a spring-loaded slider incorporating a spring controlled tire scraper and a squeegee, a spring-pressed catch onsaid frame forholding the slider in normal raised position,

and means'co-acting with said-catch and operably connected by a flexible cable connected to a trip adapted to be actuated by the brake lever of the ,automobile for retracting the catch and permit of the downward movement of the slider 7o to ground-contacting position.

3. An antiskid device for automobiles consisting of a set of devices disposed one in front of each wheel of the automobile and supported from said wheel, said device being constituted vby a frame in which is slidable a vertically dis- 1. An antiskid device for automobiles cornposed slider having a spring-:controlled tire scraper and a squeegee having a reinforced front face, a spring-pressed catch mounted on the frame for retaining the slider in normal raised position, means for releasing said catch `to allow of the fall of the slider with consequent functioning of the scraper and reinforced squeegee, the releasing means of all of the devices being interconnected with one another, and one of said'releasing means being operably connected by a llexible fcable to a trip adapted to be actuated by the brake lever of the automobile so that the set of devices function simultaneously.

4. An antiskid device according to claim 2, wherein the frame consists of spaced uprights xedly connected together by front and rear plates, and the inner faces of the uprights are gl'ooved for the slidable reception of the slider the same being constituted by spaced uprights flxedly connected together by a plate at their upper and lower ends, and the upper plate of the slider has laterally extending lugs which are coupled by means of tension springs to laterally extending lugs on the lower ends of the uprights of the frame, and the catch engages under the lower end of the upper plate of the slider to hold the same in raised position so that the springs aforesaid are normally fully tensioned.

5. An antiskid device according to claim 2, wherein the scraper is constituted by a plate xedly carried by a spindle pivotally mounted in aligning lugs on the inner faces of the uprights of the slider and spring-controlled, and two sheets preferably of rubber which overlap one another, are bolted to the rear face of the pivoted plate and at their lower and central parts are shaped to provide an arched recess and wherein the frame consists of spaced-apart uprights ixedly connected together by front and rear plates, and the inner faces of the uprights are grooved for the slidable reception of the slider the same being constituted by spacedapart uprights xedly connected together by a plate at their upper and lower ends, and the upper plate of the slider has laterally extending lugs which are coupled by means of tension springs to laterally extending lugs on. the lower ends of the uprights of the frame, and the catch engages under the lower end of the upper plate of the slider to hold the same in raised position so that the springs aforesaid are normally fulled tensioned.

6. An antiskid device according to claim 2, wherein the reinforced squeegee consists of a fibre plate and a sheet of rubber on the rear face of the fibre plate, said rubber extending beyond the lower end of the bre plate, said rubber and fibre plate being pivotally mounted on the rear face of the lower plate of the slider and wherein the frame consists of spaced-apart uprights xedly connected together by front and rear plates, and the inner faces of the uprights are grooved for the slidable reception of the slider the samev being constituted by spacedapart uprights xedly connected together by a plate "at their upper and lower ends, and the upper plate of the slider has laterally extending lugs which are coupled by means of tension springs to laterally extending lugs on the lower ends of the uprights of the frame, and the catch engages under the lower end of the upper plate of the slider to hold the same in raised position so that the springs aforesaid are normally fully tensioned.

7. An antiskid device according to claim 2, wherein the catch releasing means consists of a T-menrber carried by a spindle pivotal in the vertical arms of an inverted U-member xedly secured to the front plate of the frame, the vertical leg of the T engaging in a slot in the springpressed catch, whilst the front horizontal arm of the T is connected by the flexible cable to the trip and the rear horizontal arm of the T is connected by a flexible cable to the release means of another device of the set of devices and wherein the frame consists of spaced-apart uprights fixedly connected together by front and 'rear plates, and the inner faces of the uprights are grooved for the slidable receptio-n of the slider the same being constituted by spacedapart uprights fixed-ly connected together by a plate at their upper and lower ends, and the upper plate of the slider has laterally extending lugs which are coupled by means of tension springs to laterally extending lugs; on the lower ends of the uprights of the frame, and the catch engages under the lower end of the upper plate of the slider to hold the same in raised position so that the springs aforesaid are normally fully tensioned.

8. An antiskid device according to claim 2, wherein lpulleys are mounted on the pivotal spindle and disposed one each side of the T- member thereon, each pulley carrying a chain which is anchored to the lower end of the upper plate of the slider and wherein the frame consists of spaced-apart uprights xedly co-nnected together Iby front and rear plates, and the inner faces of the uprights are grooved for the slidable reception of the slider the same being constituted by spaced-apart uprights xedly connected together by a plate at their upper and lower ends, and the upper plate of the slider has laterally extending lugs which are coupled by means of tension springs to laterally extendings lugs on the lower ends of the uprights of the frame, and the catch engages under Ithe lower end of the upper plate of the slider to hold the same in raised position so that the springs aforesaid are normally fully tensioned and further wherein the catch releasing means consists of a T-member carried by a spindle pivotal in the vertical arms of an inverted U-member fixedly secured to the front plate of the frame, the vertical leg of the T engaging in a slot in the spring-pressed catch, whilst the front horizontal arm of the T is connected by the Bowden wire to the trip and the rear horizontal arm of the T is connected by a flexible wire to the release means of another device of the set of devices.

9. An antiskid device according to claim 2, wherein the trip is constituted by a horizontally disposed pivotally mounted arm having at its front end a pivotally mounted one-way acting spring-controlled nose, the rear end of the said arm being connected to the wire which is connected to the front arm of the releasing means.

GUSTAVE SYDNEY CROOME. 

